In case you haven’t yet heard of the Mars Volta, there’s nothing really to compare this new band against. Yes, finally a sound that sounds like nothing ever quite laid to tape before. de-loused in the comatorium, the debut album from the Mars Volta, featuring two former members of At the Drive-In: Cedric Bixler and Omar Rodriquez. This collaboration proves that progressive rock is not merely for the Kings X and Dream Theater crowd, oohing at the latest technical merits. Displaying a hard-core sound while glorifying in the dramatic ashes of Genesis’ The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, The Mars Volta is unrelenting, original and brash.
The verse-chorus-verse format is non-existent, instead the band strives on pushing their experimental heavy sound barrage to the sky, within a bunch of big words that would make even Al Gore scratch his head. Song titles like "roulette dares," "cicatriz esp," and "eriatark," are sinister while pondering the imagination, granting the listener a feeling as if they have been abducted by… The Mars Volta.
Lead singer Bixler, provides a high pitched rock-star howl amidst the onslaught of instrumental. Jeremy Ward, who died shortly before the release of the album, provides the creative fuel behind most of the outrageous sounds, providing a surreal backdrop, while invoking one to play "name that instrument." Each song follows a similar pattern and before you know it, the disc is on track eight, leaving you to wonder what happened to the first seven tracks. Yes, it’s just that kind of recording. With only one "mellow" tune, "Televators," howling towards the end, de-loused in the comatorium will provide headaches for those that relish their harmony tightly wrapped. If you think you’re ready for The Mars Volta, dive in, be careful, and play it safe. If you typically avoid the dark side, now might be the time to navigate without a light.
